Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s wife, Olena Zelenska, shares news on abducted children

Since the onset of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become a prominent figure in global discussions. His recent visit to Washington, D.C., which the media labeled a debacle, has drawn further attention to him. Despite the increasing complexities surrounding his leadership, Zelenskyy continues to receive unwavering support from his wife, Olena Zelenska.

The couple, who married on September 6, 2003, have been together for many years and share two children, Aleksandra and Kiril. While Olena Zelenska may not be as visible in the public sphere as her husband, she is cherished by the Ukrainian people.

Volodymyr and Olena first met at university, where she was studying law. Initially, they did not start dating immediately due to Olena being in a relationship with someone else. However, as time went on, they discovered their shared interests. Zelenskyy, who rose to fame as a comedian through the TV series “Servant of the People,” where he portrayed a teacher who became president, had Olena as a writer for the show. At that time, neither anticipated that the storyline would someday materialize into reality. The series, which aired from 2015 to 2019, concluded after Zelenskyy was elected president.

Shortly after becoming First Lady, Olena focused on several important issues, including children’s health and reforms in school nutrition. When the military conflict escalated in 2022, Olena and their children remained in Ukraine. She expressed her resolve in a poignant Instagram post: “I will not have panic and tears… I will be calm and confident. My children are looking at me. I will be next to them. And next to my husband. And with you.”

The war has inevitably strained their relationship, with Olena and Volodymyr often unable to see each other due to safety concerns. Reflecting on this, she shared, “It isn’t normal. It’s not a normal relationship when children cannot see their father and have to talk to him on the phone. So our relationship is on pause just as it is for all Ukrainians. We need to accumulate our strength, we need to save our energy.”

Despite these challenges, Olena recently told the Daily Mail that their bond is stronger than ever. “We’re never tired of each other; we never bore each other. And it makes the family stronger, too…” she noted, acknowledging the psychological toll of living in a war-torn country. “I hope when this pressure is relieved, with our victory, we will be able to stay sane and we’ll be fine… we are as close as ever emotionally,” she said.

Emphasizing respect in their relationship, Olena remarked, “I am sure love is not enough. And I am happy that I can respect my husband because it would have been very hard to stay with him, even given huge love, if I hadn’t believed in his honesty.”

In her advocacy for Ukraine, Olena urged the global community to remember the origins of the conflict, calling for crucial support for their nation. “Instead of stopping the aggressor and ensuring that he can never harm anyone again, discussions begin about some so-called mutually beneficial dialogue with him. This is a distortion of reality… an extremely dangerous situation for everyone,” she stated on the Italian political and news talk show “Quarta Repubblica.”

She underscored that the fight is not just for land but for the safety and rights of the people in occupied territories: “We cannot leave them in danger.” The Ukrainian government has claimed that over 19,000 children have been abducted by Russia, with only 1,227 returned. Olena highlighted the importance of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which aims to establish effective mechanisms for the safe return of these children, noting that 41 countries are already part of this coalition.

In conclusion, she called for the continued support of their cause, encouraging readers to share the message with family and friends.